kicker Justin Tucker connected on a 55-yard field goal to end the first half. Hes 28 for 28 this season, with eight FGs of at le

Were almost at the halfway point of the season, the time of year when the top teams in the country start to separate by rising to the top of their conference standings.Clemson has emerged as the clear frontrunner to win the ACC, Washington has proven to be the team to beat in the Pac-12, and Alabama is still ... Alabama. In the Big Ten, the Ohio State-Michigan game cant get here soon enough, and the Big 12 is simply playing from behind, once again depending upon a backloaded league schedule to impress the selection committee when it matters most.In the Group of 5, Houstons top four dreams were shattered on Saturday with an American Athletic Conference West Division loss to Navy.Conference play has that effect, as teams knock each other out of the postseason picture and undefeated ranked teams -- gasp! -- lose. There are still 11 undefeated teams remaining, including nine from the Power 5 conferences. At this point last year, there were 16 unbeaten teams, and only one - Clemson - stayed that way.Can this years Power 5 frontrunners stay the course until Dec. 4 when the College Football Playoff selection committee releases its final ranking? The sport has a tendency to sort itself out.In many ways, it already has.Heres a closer look at the College Football Playoff pecking order heading into Week 7. For more, watch tonights College Football Playoff: Top 25 (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).Tier I: Alabama stands aloneUntil proven otherwise, Alabama remains king. Not even Ole Miss, which was the only team to beat the Tide in each of the past two seasons, was able to finish the job on its home turf this year. Heres the tricky part: Alabama is beginning its toughest three-game stretch of any season since 2005, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. The Tide will travel to Tennessee this weekend, come home to face Texas A&M on Oct. 22, then have a bye week to prepare for a road trip to LSU on Nov. 5.According to ESPNs Sharon Katz, an average FBS team would have a .05 percent chance to win all three games, which includes three opponents ranked in the top 12 of ESPNs Football Power Index (two on the road). Alabama isnt exactly average. ESPNs FPI gives the Tide a 29 percent chance to win its next three games.If it does? Alabama stands alone -- again.Tier II: Win and youre inCandidates: Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, Washington, Texas A&MThis group likely features the Big Ten champ, Pac-12 champ and ACC champ -- a forecast of three of the top four playoff spots. Add in the SEC champ (See: Tier I) and theres your top four.Only one question here: Whos the Big Ten champ?No, we cant fast-forward to Nov. 26, when Ohio State hosts Michigan, but that will be The Answer to the Big Tens playoff question. Its possible -- but extremely unlikely -- for the runner-up to get into the top four, especially if the other candidates here run the table and win their leagues. According to ESPNs FPI, Clemson has a 36 percent chance to enter bowls undefeated, Michigan 34 percent and Washington 31 percent. We will know a lot more about the Buckeyes on Saturday after their trip to Wisconsin, an opponent Michigan already defeated.And then theres Texas A&M. The Aggies already have wins over UCLA, Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee, but none of it will amount to a top-four spot if the Aggies cant win at Alabama on Oct. 22 (See: Tier I). ESPNs FPI gives A&M a 29.3 percent chance at the upset. If the Aggies can pull it off, it will change the playoff picture instantly.?Tier III: Playoff worthy but needs helpCandidates: LouisvilleThe ACC appears to be the Power 5 conference with the best chance to get two teams in the top four in spite of the Cardinals narrow, thrilling loss at Clemson on Oct. 1. The only reason this scenario isnt far-fetched is because Louisville has looked like a top-four team with Lamar Jackson at quarterback, and its favored to win each remaining game by at least 70 percent.The problem is Houston is the only ranked team remaining on the Cardinals schedule, and Houston just lost to Navy. Now, Houston might not even win its own West Division in the American Athletic Conference. It would still be a respectable win for Louisville, but it wont carry as much weight with the committee as it would have had the Cougars been fighting for a spot in the top four. Louisvilles best hope is not only to win out, but to have another conference champion with a weaker strength of schedule slip up and have two losses.Tier IV: The Power 5 undefeatedsCandidates:?Baylor, Nebraska, West VirginiaBaylor has almost no margin for error, as it faces the same nonconference strength-of-schedule questions it had in the first two years of the CFP. With wins against SMU, Northwestern State and Rice, an undefeated season is the Bears only realistic hope at cracking the top four.Nebraska has quietly gotten off to a 5-0 start, but the Huskers have back-to-back road trips at Wisconsin (Oct. 29) and Ohio State (Nov. 5) -- the only two games on their schedule ESPNs FPI doesnt project them to win. If they escape those trips, its time for a more serious conversation. The same can be said for West Virginia, which has played only one FBS team (Kansas State) with a winning record. If the Mountaineers are still undefeated heading into November, after road trips to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, thats only half the battle. Texas, OU and Baylor still await.Aaron Ekblad Panthers Jersey . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Aaron Ekblad Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. http://www.hockeypanthersofficialonline.com/ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Keith Yandle Jersey .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Vincent Trocheck Jersey . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators.BALTIMORE -- John Harbaugh had been waiting the entire season for the Baltimore Ravens to put it all together in one memorable, outstanding performance.His patience was rewarded Sunday.The Ravens combined a record-setting passing day by Joe Flacco with a rugged defensive effort in a 38-6 rout of the Miami Dolphins.It was just a heck of a team victory, Harbaugh said. Its something thats been in our minds, our vision of how we played today as a team. Its what were working for, and its nice to see it happen.Flacco threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns, and the Ravens (7-5) made it apparent early that Miamis six-game winning streak would not make it to seven.Baltimore built a 24-0 halftime lead behind the leagues second-ranked defense and Flacco, who went 27 for 34 for 258 yards and three scores.That was enough to provide the Ravens with their fourth win in five games and at least a share of first place in the AFC North.Flacco finished with a franchise-record 36 completions in 47 attempts, by far his most impressive outing in an uneven season. He entered with 11 TD passes and 10 interceptions.It feels good to throw four touchdown passes, Flacco said, but at the end of the day, what does it really matter? As long as we win, thats what matters.Miami (7-5) didnt score until Ryan Tannehill threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter following a fumble recovery that started the drive at the Baltimore 8.That made it 24-6, and Flacco answered with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Breshad Perriman with 12:49 left.Two of Flaccos TD passes went to tight end Dennis Pitta, whos enjoying a fine season in his return from a second hip surgery. Pitta had nine catches for 90 yards and leads Baltimore with 61 receptions, but he hadnt reached the end zone since December 2013.Tannehill went 29 for 40 for 226 yards and three interceptions. He was picked off only once during Miamis six-game streak.The Ravens scored a touchdown on their first possession for the second week in a row, moving 75 yards before Flacco connected with Terrance West for a 3-yard score.Unlike last week, when Baltimore managed just one TD in a win over Cincinnati, the Ravens immediately built on their early advantage. Following a missed field goal by the Dolphins, Flacco deftly took Baltimore downfield before throwing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pitta.ddddddddddddhe drive was extended by Kenneth Dixons 10-yard run on a fourth-and-1.Flacco capped an 18-play drive in the second quarter with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Pitta. The methodical march took up 8 minutes, 57 seconds.QUOTEABLEDolphins: This was not one of our best performances, coach Adam Gase said. You cant waste opportunities early in the game, especially on offense. We had nothing that really jump-started us. We just couldnt make any plays.Ravens: I thought Joe just played phenomenally well, Harbaugh said. Joe and the offensive line got the game balls in the locker room. I thought (Flaccos) vision was phenomenal. He moved around and made plays on the run, guys made catch-and-run plays. It looked like we wanted it to look.NOWHERE TO RUNDolphins: Miami was limited to 62 yards rushing, its lowest output since gaining 51 in a loss to Tennessee on Oct. 9 -- its last loss. Jay Ajayi was held to 61 yards on 12 carries.Ravens: The Ravens split the handoffs. Dixon gained 56 yards on six attempts and West had 10 carries for 50 yards, including a 9-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.STILL PERFECTRavens kicker Justin Tucker connected on a 55-yard field goal to end the first half. Hes 28 for 28 this season, with eight FGs of at least 50 yards. Hes also hit 35 in a row over two seasons.Gase used a timeout an instant before Tucker banged his field goal try through the uprights. After the timeout, Tucker duplicated the feat.INJURY UPDATEDolphins: LB Kiko Alonso (hand) missed part of the first half. ... CB Tony Lippett was evaluated for a concussion and cleared in second quarter.Ravens: CB Tavon Young (shoulder) left in the second quarter but returned after halftime.UP NEXTDolphins: Miami hosts Arizona next Sunday. The Dolphins have won three straight in the series after losing the first eight.Ravens: A Monday night game in New England looms for the Ravens, 1-7 against the Patriots in the regular season. Harbaugh called it our toughest challenge of the year.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '